Arc Trials’ Day – Sunday 14 September

After the first forfeit stage, the entries for the big Arc Trials and the supporting races have been cut down to manageable numbers.

The most notable defector from the Prix Niel was Kingston Hill, so it looks like St Leger or nothing for him this weekend.

In the Prix Vermeille, current Arc favourite Treve stands her ground and may face Aidan O’Brien’s Tapestry, although French rivals Shamkala and We Are have both been taken out as well as Godolphin’s Tasaday.

Treve also retains an entry in the Prix Foy, where Aidan O’Brien has three including last year’s Derby winner Ruler Of The World and Magician. Godolphin’s St Leger winner Encke has not retained his entry.

The most predictable defection from the Prix Du Moulin was Kingman but Guineas winner Miss France, Olympic Glory and Outstrip have also declined to participate in what looks a very competitive affair that could see two ‘Guineas’ winners face off.

Given that Aidan O’Brien has usually only sent the odd runner over for this fixture, the number still retaining entries could fall considerably at the final declaration stage.

With the weather forecast for Sunday currently sunny and warm, there has to be a question mark against the likes of Treve running as the known mudlarks like Kingston Hill, Olympic Glory and Gatewood are staying at home whilst Toronado and Magician stand their ground.

In the following, I have listed entries in alphabetic/weight order and times are local (BST +1):

14:30 – Prix Niel (G2, 2400m)
Adelaide (IRE) – A.P. O’Brien
Ectot (GB) – E. Lellouche
Elliptique (IRE) – A. Fabre
Gallante (IRE) – A. Fabre
Guardini – J.P. Carvalho
Hellain – E. Lellouche
Serans – E. Lellouche
Teletext (USA) – P. Bary
Vadamos – F. Rohaut

15:45 – Prix Vermeille (G1, 2400m)
Baltic Baroness (GER) (4yo) 58.5kg – A. Fabre
Chalnetta (4yo) 58.5kg – C. Ferland
Frine (IRE) (4yo) 58.5kg – C. Laffon-Parias
Pollyana (IRE) (5yo) 58.5kg – J. Hammond
Pomology (USA) (4yo) 58.5kg – J. Gosden
Red Lips (GER) (4yo) 58.5kg – A. Lowe
Siljan's Saga (4yo) 58.5kg – J.P. Gauvin
Sultanina (GB) (4yo) 58.5kg – J. Gosden
Treve (4yo) 58.5kg – Mme C. Head-Maarek
Dolniya (3yo) 54.5kg – A. De Royer Dupre
Madame Chiang (GB) (3yo) 54.5kg – D.M.I. Simcock
Mintaka (3yo) 54.5kg – A. De Royer Dupre
Tapestry (IRE) (3yo) 54.5kg – A.P. O’Brien
Vazira (3yo) 54.5kg – A. De Royer Dupre

16:25 – Prix Foy (G2, 2400m)
Au Revoir (IRE) (4yo) 58kg – A. Fabre
Flintshire (GB) (4yo) 58kg – A. Fabre
Kingsbarns (IRE) (4yo) 58kg – A.P. O’Brien
Magician (IRE) (4yo) 58kg – A.P. O’Brien
Meleagros (IRE) (5yo) 58kg – A. Couetil
Ruler Of The World (IRE) (4yo) 58kg – A.P. O’Brien
Spiritjim (4yo) 58kg – P. Bary
Pollyana (IRE) (5yo f) 56.5kg – J. Hammond
Treve (4yo f) 56.5kg – Mme C. Head-Maarek

16:55 – Prix Du Moulin De Longchamp (G1, 1600m)
Grand Vintage (5yo) 58kg – W. Mongil
Mogadishio (7yo) 58kg – S. Smrczek
Sommerabend (GB) (7yo) 58kg – M. Rulec
Toronado (IRE) (4yo) 58kg – R. Hannon
Bow Creek (IRE) (3yo) 56kg – M.S. Johnston
Charm Spirit (IRE) (3yo) 56kg – F. Head
Decathlete (USA) (3yo) 56kg – A. Fabre
Karakontie (JPN) (3yo) 56kg – J. Pease
Master Carpenter (IRE) (3yo) 56kg – B.R. Millman
Night Of Thunder (IRE) (3yo) 56kg – R. Hannon
Wannabe Yours (IRE) (3yo) 56kg – J. Gosden
Bawina (IRE) (3yo f) 54.5kg – C. Laffon-Parias
Lavender Lane (IRE) (3yo f) 54.5kg – J. Hammond
Longina (GER) (3yo f) 54.5kg – P. Schiergen

13:30 – Prix Du Petit Couvert (G3, 1000m)
Rangali (GB) (3yo) 58.5kg – H-A. Pantall
Catcall (5yo) 58kg – P. Sogorb
Move In Time (GB) (6yo) 56.5kg – D. O’Meara
Cambio De Planes (GB) (5yo) 56.5kg – C. Delcher Sanchez
Caspian Prince (IRE) (5yo) 56.5kg – A.W. Carroll
Mirza (GB) (7yo) 56.5kg – R. Guest
Sir Maximilian (IRE) (5yo) 56.5kg – T.J. Pitt
Spirit Quartz (IRE) (6yo) 56.5kg – X. Nakkachdji
Stepper Point (GB) (5yo) 56.5kg – W.R. Muir
Caledonia Lady (GB) (5yo f) 55kg – Mme M. Bollack-Badel
Penmaen (IRE) (4yo f) 55kg – J. Hammond
One Chance (IRE) (3yo f) 54.5kg – J. Butler
Wind Fire (USA) (3yo f) 54.5kg – D.H. Brown

17:25 – Prix Gladiateur (G3, 3100m)
Domeside (GB) (8yo) 58kg – M. Delcher Sanchez
Going Somewhere (BRZ) (5yo) 57kg – D. Smaga
High Jinx (IRE) (6yo) 57kg – J.R. Fanshawe
Les Beaufs (5yo) 57kg – Mme V. Seignoux
Bathyrhon (GER) (6yo) 56kg – Mme P. Brandt
Biladi (5yo) 56kg – X. Thomas Demeaulte
Biographer (GB) (5yo) 56kg – D.R. Lanigan
Ederan (IRE) (4yo) 56kg – R. Collet
Trip To Rhodos (5yo) 56kg – P. Tuma
Goldtara (6yo f) 55.5kg – A. Lyon
Hidden Cove (IRE) (4yo f) 54.5kg – A. De Royer Dupre
Kicky Blue (GER) (4yo f) 54.5kg – T. Clout

 

Some interesting changes to the probables already with Tapestry being taken out of the Prix Vermeille and Magician, Pollyana and Treve defecting from the Prix Foy.

Karakontie will not be lining up for the Prix Du Moulin, so no clash of the ‘Guineas’ winners, but Andre Fabre has supplemented Esoterique.

Final declarations on Friday.

 

Presumably Ryan Moore had first choice in the Prix Foy and has opted for Kingsbarns. Could Ruler Of The World be a potential Arc ride for Frankie? There could be a fascinating clash between Toronado and Guineas winner Night Of Thunder in the Moulin.

The final declarations and jockey plans for Sunday now look as follows:

14:30 – Prix Niel (G2, 2400m)
1 Ectot (GB) – E. Lellouche, G. Benoist
2 Serans – E. Lellouche, C. Stefan
3 Teletext (USA) – P. Bary, C. Lemaire
4 Adelaide (IRE) – A.P. O’Brien, R. Moore
5 Gallante (IRE) – A. Fabre, P.C. Boudot
6 Elliptique (IRE) – A. Fabre, M. Guyon
7 Vadamos – F. Rohaut, F.X. Bertras
8 Guardini – J.P. Carvalho, C. Soumillon

15:45 – Prix Vermeille (G1, 2400m)
1 Treve (4yo) 58.5kg – Mme C. Head-Maarek, T. Jarnet
2 Chalnetta (4yo) 58.5kg – C. Ferland, J. Auge
3 Siljan's Saga (4yo) 58.5kg – J.P. Gauvin, P.C. Boudot
4 Baltic Baroness (GER) (4yo) 58.5kg – A. Fabre, M. Guyon
5 Pomology (USA) (4yo) 58.5kg – J. Gosden, W. Buick
6 Pollyana (IRE) (5yo) 58.5kg – J. Hammond, F. Lefebvre
7 Sultanina (GB) (4yo) 58.5kg – J. Gosden, R. Moore
8 Red Lips (GER) (4yo) 58.5kg – A. Lowe, F. Veron
9 Dolniya (3yo) 54.5kg – A. De Royer Dupre, C. Soumillon
10 Madame Chiang (GB) (3yo) 54.5kg – D.M.I. Simcock, M. Barzalona

16:25 – Prix Foy (G2, 2400m)
1 Flintshire (GB) (4yo) 58kg – A. Fabre, M. Guyon
2 Ruler Of The World (IRE) (4yo) 58kg – A.P. O’Brien, L. Dettori
3 Meleagros (IRE) (5yo) 58kg – A. Couetil, A. Fouassier
4 Spiritjim (4yo) 58kg – P. Bary, C. Lemaire
5 Kingsbarns (IRE) (4yo) 58kg – A.P. O’Brien, R. Moore
6 Au Revoir (IRE) (4yo) 58kg – A. Fabre, P.C. Boudot

16:55 – Prix Du Moulin De Longchamp (G1, 1600m)
1 Toronado (IRE) (4yo) 58kg – R. Hannon, R. Hughes
2 Grand Vintage (5yo) 58kg – W. Mongil, S. Pasquier
3 Mogadishio (7yo) 58kg – S. Smrczek, Mlle D. Santiago
4 Sommerabend (GB) (7yo) 58kg – M. Rulec, T. Bachelot
5 Esoterique (IRE) (4yo f) 56,5kg – A. Fabre, M. Guyon
6 Charm Spirit (IRE) (3yo) 56kg – F. Head, T. Jarnet
7 Decathlete (USA) (3yo) 56kg – A. Fabre, M. Barzalona
8 Master Carpenter (IRE) (3yo) 56kg – B.R. Millman, C. Soumillon
9 Night Of Thunder (IRE) (3yo) 56kg – R. Hannon, R. Moore
10 Bawina (IRE) (3yo f) 54.5kg – C. Laffon-Parias, O. Peslier

13:30 – Prix Du Petit Couvert (G3, 1000m)
1 Rangali (GB) (3yo) 58.5kg – H-A. Pantall, F. Veron
2 Catcall (5yo) 58kg – P. Sogorb, O. Peslier
3 Move In Time (GB) (6yo) 56.5kg – D. O’Meara, R. Hughes
4 Spirit Quartz (IRE) (6yo) 56.5kg – X. Nakkachdji, NON RUNNER
5 Cambio De Planes (GB) (5yo) 56.5kg – C. Delcher Sanchez, P.C. Boudot
6 Caspian Prince (IRE) (5yo) 56.5kg – A.W. Carroll, L. Morris
7 Mirza (GB) (7yo) 56.5kg – R. Guest, L. Dettori
8 Penmaen (IRE) (4yo f) 55kg – J. Hammond, F. Lefebvre
9 Caledonia Lady (GB) (5yo f) 55kg – Mme M. Bollack-Badel, A. Badel
10 Wind Fire (USA) (3yo f) 54.5kg – D.H. Brown, G. Mosse
11 One Chance (IRE) (3yo f) 54.5kg – J. Butler, NON RUNNER

17:25 – Prix Gladiateur (G3, 3100m)
1 Domeside (GB) (8yo) 58kg – M. Delcher Sanchez, C. Soumillon
2 Les Beaufs (5yo) 57kg – Mme V. Seignoux, J. Guillochon
3 Going Somewhere (BRZ) (5yo) 57kg – D. Smaga, G. Benoist
4 High Jinx (IRE) (6yo) 57kg – J.R. Fanshawe, R. Moore
5 Trip To Rhodos (5yo) 56kg – P. Tuma, C. Demuro
6 Biladi (5yo) 56kg – X. Thomas Demeaulte, O. Peslier
7 Bathyrhon (GER) (6yo) 56kg – Mme P. Brandt, M. Guyon
8 Ederan (IRE) (4yo) 56kg – R. Collet, P.C. Boudot
9 Goldtara (6yo f) 55.5kg – A. Lyon, C. Lemaire
10 Kicky Blue (GER) (4yo f) 54.5kg – T. Clout, M. Barzalona
11 Hidden Cove (IRE) (4yo f) 54.5kg – A. De Royer Dupre, G. Mosse

 

Looks like this thread would have been more appropriately named QuarterMoon’s Paris Blog!

It is general knowledge that the French economy is up a creek without a paddle, but I wonder how bad finances are in French racing right now. Arc Trials’ Day had been free for several years previously yet it was ten Euros this year. I was not able to buy a two-day ticket for the Arc meeting as they are not available yet just three weeks in advance; however, I note that at Deauville the other week admission was also ten Euros – twice what it was when I had last visited.

They had an “offer spéciale” in the racecard “une entrée 100% Arc le samedi à 10€ ou une entrée 100% Arc le dimanche à 20€” which translates that it will be thirty Euros for the weekend (Saturday ten Euros, Sunday twenty Euros – unless the “100% Arc” bit signifies some sort of hospitality package).

The going on Sunday was officially given as “bon” (good) but having walked across two parts of the course, I would say that if you had asked any of the British jockeys they would have said it was on the fast side of good; and two or three of the big races were run in times close to the race records.

I was very impressed by Ectot in the Prix Niel. I think Grégory Benoist deliberately missed the kick on Elie Lellouche’s colt – who had not run since April because of injury –and he won with a bit more in hand than the official verdict. Unbeaten this term in two starts and having won six of his seven races, this son of Hurricane Run now looks the best prospect for the home Arc defence; however, if dropping out and coming late is to be the tactic, a good draw on 5th October could be critical. Pricewise could be crowing on 6th October.

With the fast conditions it was no surprise that Treve failed to sparkle. This was the slowest of the three Arc Trials by more than a second. The first two were both stepping up markedly on previous form with Group 2 Lancashire Oaks winner Pomology being pipped by Listed winner Baltic Baroness. After the race, it was suggested in a private conversation by a well-placed former jockey that the owner still wants Treve to run in the Arc although he thinks that she has not trained on. With the state of the ground, I wonder if Treve would have run at all if it had not been for the fact that the owner was in attendance.

The Prix Foy saw a great exhibition of front-running by Frankie Dettori on last year’s Derby winner Ruler Of The World, judging the early sections perfectly so that he could kick clear early in the straight and win comfortably. Will this be Dettori’s Arc ride? His retainer is not the controlling owner and Joseph O’Brien might be looking for a ride as other Ballydoyle candidates are in short supply.

Al Shaqab owned (or part owned) horses won the Arab race and two of the Trials but Toronado was unable to complete a good day when Freddie Head’s Charm Spirit completed a hat-trick (and a Group 1 double) by pipping him in the Prix Du Moulin. No excuses needed for catching what is clearly an improving horse – will the winner be coming over on Champions’ Day to have a go at Kingman? (assuming that Kingman is well enough to turn up himself)

 

Thanks for keeping us informed QM. It would be interesting to know who that former jockey was because in my opinion he's talking out of his backside. Criquette has at last admitted that Treve has had foot problems through running on too firm ground. Yet still she would have beaten a race fit CDA on her first run this year on very soft going, given another 50 metres. She still broke the course record next time out over a trip too short, despite clearly feeling her feet on the firm ground at Ascot (and apparently pulling a muscle in the race); and, despite not having the ground to have a proper prep for the Arc trial on ground (as you say) firmer than good, and not given a hard race, she still ran the fastest final 600 metres of all the trials. Just think what she would have done on soft ground and fully fit. She would be red hot fav for the Arc now. She has definitely trained on but it's all down to how her feet are after Sunday and whether she gets the ground she needs for a full preparation and then ground softer than good for the Arc. There isn't much time left and the forecast doesn't look in her favour. It would be interesting to know if Criquet can water her gallops to the extent necessary for a proper preparation and it would be interesting to know how soon that preparation could start (ie depending on how she came out of the race, feetwise). As I've said in the Timeform Corner thread (where the sectionals of all 3 trials are compared) hopefully she will only run if she's had a full prep and the ground is right, in which case, what price with a run?

 

If I tell you that the former jockey is now a racing manager for several well known owners, you will have little trouble figuring it out.

Before the St Leger, I would not have had a dime on Kingston Hill and I still would not – Australia is not the best horse O’Brien has ever trained on current evidence, so running him close is not stellar form. The Leger was his only win of the year. Treve’s Arc odds are a fair reflection of her winless campaign. Punters backing her are backing her on last year’s form. I will not be amongst them. I hope the ground is safe for her to run and that she gives her supporters a good run for their money.

I have been on the France Galop ticket site and it does look like normal admission for Arc weekend is ten Euros (eight for concessions) on Saturday and twenty Euros (sixteen for concessions) on Sunday. They also do some tented village and restaurant deals for those wanting to splash out loads of Euros.

 

Even Criquette has reluctantly admitted that "it might be that she is not the same filly as she was last year".

Its better for them to blame injuries than admit she didnt train on, im no expert on that side of things but im guessing a filly that did not train on loses a lot more value than a filly who got injured.

The warning signs were there before she even ran this season, reports that she was "more settled" and "less fiery" in her work. Its obvious the filly has lost something mentally that she had last season and we have seen that in her races. Not once have I seen her travel like last season, even in the Ganay, she had to be ridden to close, that was not the the filly who burst through that gap of her own accord in the Diane on ground just as fast as Longchamp on Sunday, or the same filly who inhaled the arc field under a hold.

None more than me would love to see her back Ron, but I think the game is up.